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All Current and Past Media Releases
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Media Release - Department of Water and Energy Date: 1 July 2009 COMMENCING ALLOCATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR MURRUMBIDGEE VALLEY WATER USERS The NSW Department of Water and Energy today announced commencing allocations for NSW water users in the Murrumbidgee Valley, for the new 2009-2010 water year commencing on 1 July 2009. With little inflow to water storages in the valley, water availability remains critically low. In the Murrumbidgee Valley there is sufficient water available to meet the critical human needs for 2009-2010, however; there is not enough water available to supply all the carry-over water now in licence holder’s accounts. To secure sufficient water to meet the conveyance losses needed to maintain flows throughout the system, high and general security licence holders will only have immediate access to 80 per cent of water carried over in 2008-2009. All available water in accounts is tradable from 1 July 2009. The drought has continued in the Murrumbidgee Valley and storages contain about 100 GL less than at this time last year, with substantial proportions of this water being private carry-over, undelivered inter-valley transfers and pre-releases from Snowy Hydro Corporation. Domestic and stock and high security subcategory town water supply licence holders will commence on 50 per cent of entitlement. Flows have been reduced to minimums to save as much water as possible and only the minimum volume of conveyance water will be made available to deliver supply into both the Yanco Creek system and to the Irrigation Corporations. Local water utilities will commence on 50 per cent of entitlement and are advised to implement Level 4 water restrictions, i.e. no outside water use. Councils may purchase water to ease these restrictions to Level 3a as outlined in the Murray and Murrumbidgee water restrictions policy. The next announcement relating to the Murrumbidgee regulated water source will be made on 15 August and then on the 15th of each month via the Murrumbidgee Critical Water Communiqués. These communiqués are available on the Department’s website at www.dwe.nsw.gov.au Additional information is also available on the Department’s website. Alternatively; licence holders can phone their local DWE office for more information.
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